Cozy Upscale Cuisine That Resembles Houston’s Restaurant Chain
Griffin, Georgia USA
Cuisine Style: American
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 3/5
Dined: 2001-2009
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Executive Chef:
Brian Beebe
Restaurant Owner:
Daniel Proctor
J Henry’s Restaurant gets it name from John Henry “Doc” Holliday who was born in Griffin in 1851. In 1873 he earned his dentistry degree and opened a practice in Atlanta, then diagnosed with tuberculosis, he moved west, and in 1880 ended up Tombstone. His fame as a gunman had already been established by this time, and in October 1881, he and his friend Wyatt Earp participated in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The town founded 1840 by Col. Lewis Lawrence Griffin, with J-Henry’s and the 6th Street Pier Steak and Seafood Grill being the only two that fit into the category of finer dining in my opinion.
Menu:
- Appetizers
- Salads and Soups
- Sandwiches
- Steaks, Ribs, and Chicken
- Seafood
- Sides
- Desserts
The city of Griffin has a population of around 23,000, located about forty miles south of Atlanta, with Interstate 75 fifteen miles to the east of the city. A small community that when I lived there was experiencing a growth spurt in its west and northern sides. The main fame as mentioned above is the gunfighter and dentist Doc Holliday, and you can also visit the Doc Holliday Museum, which is run out of a local residents house, who is a descendant to the Doc. J-Henry’s is located near the center of the old downtown area at the end of a small shopping plaza, with a good amount of parking, and very visible from the busy intersection.
Before I begin this review which will be based on several visits from 2001 to 2009 I need to disclose that I was also employed by J-Henry’s from 2001 to 2003. This review will not reflect good or bad based on my work experiences, only from the customers perspective, with more details since I saw behind the scenes.
It was two weeks after September 11, 2001, that I was hired by the restaurant owner, and began nearly three years of good employment. J-Henry’s is a classic example of an American restaurant with steak and seafood highlights. The owner, before opening this restaurant worked with Houston’s Restaurant, part of the Hillstone Restaurant Group a fine dining operating 16 locations in seven states from California to Florida. Therefore from what I noticed, after visiting a Houston’s a few years later, I found a few appetizers and entrees from J-Henry’s menu to be identical to those at Houston’s to include the style of silverware.
 |
| Hawaiian Ribeye |
Examples of these are the appetizer spinach dip, the thin cut french fries, and what used to be on the older menus which he may still run as a special, the Hawaiian ribeye steak (Pictured above). While I was there this special was the top-selling entree item. The steak is marinated for three days in a mixture of pineapple sauce, soy, apple cider, and brown sugar, then char-grilled to the level you prefer of doneness.
**************
Hawaiian Ribeye from Houston’s Restaurant
4 ribeye steaks
For the marinade:
1/3 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1 1/2 6oz cans pineapple juice
3/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium)
1/8 cup Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons fresh chopped garlic
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons ginger powder
2 teaspoons Grated Ginger
Instructions:
Seal steaks in a ziplock bag with the marinade and let sit in the fridge for at least two up to three entire days. 48 to 72 hours.
**************
Other very good options that I would recommend include the beer battered fried mushrooms, ahi tuna, and the smoked salmon appetizers. The salmon is smoked with hickory wood, served with a lemon-dill sauce, and if you're going to choose a starter, then this is the one to go for.
The French onion soup is decent, not the best, but there are so many ways to make it as far as chef creativity, and of course, the like and dislike of an item is very subjective based on the person. For me, I like most soups prepared in this fashion. If it was my father, on the other hand, he would be a major critic, because he bases all French onion soups on the best he had in Bavaria twenty years ago. Most of the other salads are very common to an American bistro restaurant, as well as the sandwiches and burgers. From entrees, you have your common fare with a selection of steaks, chicken, salmon, tuna, and trout along with assorted sides.
Dessert:
The chocolate cake though it looks and tastes divine is a Sysco product preprepared, packaged, frozen and delivered to your table, whereas the pecan apple cobbler is mostly prepared in-house and has a wonderful flavor.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other Noteworthy American cuisine Articles & Restaurants:
725 South Casual American eats At The Westin Tampa Harbour Island, Tampa, Florida
Charleston’s Restaurant Casual American eatery; reviewed in Indianapolis, Indiana
Cypress Refined creative American fare in Charleston, South Carolina
Periscope Restaurant American Cuisine in the Magnuson Hotel, Marina Cove, St Petersburg, Florida
The Biltmore Dining Room Seasonal American cuisine in Asheville, North Carolina
The Zink Kitchen + Bar Modern and sleek American cuisine in Centennial, Colorado
Z Grille Colorfully inspired twists on American Classics in St. Petersburg, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
A Few Georgia Favorites:
|
Farm-to-Table Southern bites spot in Sandy Springs, Georgia, USA
|
Hip burger chain with space-age decor
Midtown, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
|
Boutique bistro, new American, & Southern favorites
Atlantic Station, Georgia, USA
|
|
Modern and contemporary American cuisine
Peachtree Corners, Georgia, USA
|
Sci-Fi Convention Event at the Hyatt, Downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA
|
A Southern 24/7 breakfast chain
Norcross, Georgia, USA
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give J-Henry’s a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning that they exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings
|
Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
|
Total Points deducted:
|
Ambiance
|
9
|
7
|
0
|
Food quality
|
8.5
|
7
|
0
|
Plate presentation
|
9
|
6.5
|
0
|
Customer service
|
9.5
|
7.5
|
0
|
Alcohol and other beverages
|
8
|
5
|
0
|
Total regular points awarded
|
44
|
33
|
0
|
Total percentage — less the Bonus
|
0.75
|
||
“Wow” factor BONUS
|
5
|
2
|
0
|
Total bonus percentage
|
0.0454545454545455
|
||
Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
|
0.795454545454545
|
||
Stars Awarded (see chart below)
|
0 - 5
|
3
|
**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
|
3 of 5 Stars:
80% Rating with a 2 point “wow” bonus
Exceeded my Expectations in a Dining Experience
|
Corkage fee’s:
|
This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
|
Restaurant style:
|
Casual dining
|
Cuisine Style:
|
American
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Pescatarian, Vegan Options, Vegetarian
|
Reservations:
|
Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
|
Dress code:
|
Smart casual to Casual attire
|
Child policy:
|
The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
|
Experiences:
|
Contemporary, Modern, Trendy, Business parties, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Good for special occasions, Classy, Upscale, and a Neighborhood Gem.
|
Payments:
|
Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
|
Parking:
|
Public Lot
|
Wifi
|
The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
|
Noise level:
|
Medium
|
Smoking:
|
Nonsmoking restaurant
|
Patio or terrace:
|
No
|
Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricy)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
|
United States Dollar (USD)
|
$$
|
Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
|
£
|
Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$$$
|
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥¥¥
|
European Union (EUR)
|
€€
|
J-Henry’s Restaurant:
110 West College Street
Griffin, Georgia
30224
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
|
|
Maître d or host:
|
+1 678-688-1769
|
Email Contact:
|
|
Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
|
Daily:
Mon-Sat
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sunday
11:00 am - 9:00 pm
|
Social Media
&
Accolades:
|
|
****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
|
Refined and elegant creole fare since 1880
New Orlean’s, Louisiana, USA
|
Old-world classic Italian & Mediterranean
New Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA
|
Country-style local ingredients w/French flair
Constantia, South Africa
|
Other Pictures:
 |
| Dining room |
 |
| Tuna dish |
 |
| Dining Room |
 |
| Potato Soup |
 |
| Doc Holliday |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
